Hey!
Important one today. There are 5 running backs I'm hammering in every draft I'm doing right now and the market hasn't caught up to any of them.
Here’s why:
#5 Jeremiyah Love
Arizona spent the 3rd overall pick on Love and he's now sliding into the 3rd round of fantasy drafts.
He ran a 4.36 forty (Top 1%) and just posted 1372 rushing yards on 6.9 yards per carry with 18 TDs in 12 college games last season.
The competition behind him is Tyler Allgeier, a 31-year-old James Conner coming off a major injury, and Trey Benson who suffered a season-ending knee last year.
Love has major upside if you can land him in Round 3…
#4 Chase Brown
He was the RB8 last year at 14.6 points per game with 88 targets (4th at RB) and 11 total TDs. The Bengals added 0 competition this offseason
It’s the same coaching staff, same weapons, and now a healthy Burrow. Also it’s worth calling out, this is a contract year for Brown.
#3 Saquon Barkley
He’s now going in Round 2 because of a down year in 2025 that wasn't his fault.
His true yards per carry cratered from 5.0 (4th) to 3.8 (51st) under Kevin Patullo last season, but the workhorse volume never left (80% snap share, 3rd).
Patullo is now gone, Sean Mannion takes over as the new offensive coordinator. He’s expected to run zone concepts, this fits Saquon well…
#2 David Montgomery
His 2025 was rough (9.1 points per game), but in his 6 games with 13+ touches he averaged 13 points. This offseason he was traded to Houston to be their RB1.
The Texans rebuilt their O-Line: signing Braden Smith, Evan Brown & Wyatt Teller.
The only backfield competition is Woody Marks, largely a receiving back with poor rushing success as a rookie last year.
#1 Josh Jacobs
He just finished as the RB8 at 14.6 points per game with 14 total TDs (5th in the NFL).
The off-field issue is why he's falling, but there's been no news in nearly a month, and a 2026 suspension seems unlikely as things currently stand.
Through Week 10 before a knee contusion last season, Jacobs was averaging 18.1 points per game. Emanuel Wilson is now gone, the only competition is Chris Brooks (82 career carries) and Marshawn Lloyd (6 career carries)…
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